Choose to Be and Stay God's Child - Matthew 18

February 20, 2011 AM
Dave Marttunen

Audio / Questions / Leaders

In baptism and child dedication, there is much in common. In both cases we are witnessing the work of God in
life. In baptism we witness the commitment of self to God completely; we are by our own choice buried (put to death and lowered into a grave). In dedication, we witness and join parents in their commitment of themselves to God for the sake of their child. In both cases we see the willing abandonment of self to God. We witness in their declaration that without God in them not one of them can hope to live out an active and declared commitment. This is true for all of us. However, for most of us, our world is a collision over greatness, power and control. This introduces us to a moment when the disciples are disputing between themselves over this issue; in God‟s coming kingdom, who will be the greatest? Christ‟s answer to them helps us think through the radical difference between God‟s plan and ours. In Jesus‟ answer we will discover that his rule in our lives is not based on our self-empowerment but our willing self-abasement. Today, we will explore in more depth, what it means in attitude and practice to choose to be and stay a child of God.

---